Former BAR team principal Craig Pollock is to return to Formula 1 in 2013 as the head of a new customer engine supply company.
Pollock has launched PURE, which stands for Propulsion Universelle et Recuperation d'Energie, to provide teams with power-units that comply with the new 1.6-liter four-cylinder turbo engine regulations that come into force that year.
A team of management and technical partners have been recruited for the project – including former Renault F1 managing director Christian Contzen and aerospace expert Robin Southwell. PURE will use expertise from a number of companies, including Mecachrome, to help design and produce the engines.
Speaking about the plans, Pollock said: "The vision for PURE is to be a leader in the development of the next generation power train technology which must respond to the demands for a cleaner environment. The 2013 F1 power train regulation changes offer PURE an immediate platform to field test and validate future technologies for implementation in other industries. We have assembled an expert team, the finest technology partners and have received positive encouragement from the FIA."
The PURE project also has the backing of FIA president Jean Todt, who has pushed hard for the new more fuel-efficient engine formula to be introduced in 2013.
"We welcome PURE to Formula 1," said Todt. "The rule changes for 2013 have been developed to provide lower cost, greener and more fuel efficient technologies for Formula 1. We wish PURE every success in developing power trains compliant with the new FIA regulations."